Electronic apparatus, stand and electronic apparatus stand system

Abstract

An electronic camera system is provided which includes an electronic camera and a camera stand which is adapted to mount the electronic camera thereon. The electronic camera includes a power switch and a LCD display, and has a plurality of operation modes. The camera stand includes a connecting portion to be connected to the electronic camera mounted thereon, and a communication system which enables communication with a personal computer. When the power switch of the electronic camera mounted on the camera stand is turned on and the LCD display of the electronic camera is located at a front side of the camera stand, a communication mode of the electronic camera is automatically initiated, and the electronic camera system initiates operation in the communication mode.

1 . An electronic camera system comprising: 
 an electronic camera which includes a power switch and a LCD display, and which has a plurality of operation modes; and    a camera stand which is adapted to mount the electric camera thereon, and which comprises a connecting portion to be connected to the electronic camera mounted thereon, and a communication system which enables communication with a personal computer;    wherein when the power switch of the electronic camera mounted on the camera stand is turned on and the LCD display of the electronic camera is located at a front side of the camera stand, a communication mode of the electronic camera is automatically initiated, and the electronic camera system initiates operation in the communication mode.    
   
   
       2 . The electronic device system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic camera has a camera bottom which includes a connecting portion to be connected to the connecting portion of the camera stand, a tripod screw, and a battery lid having a width which is smaller than a thickness of the electronic camera.  
   
   
       3 . The electronic device system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic camera comprises a control circuit and a sensor which detects a state of attachment of the electronic camera to the camera stand, and 
 wherein when the LCD display of the electronic camera is located at the front side of the camera stand, the control circuit of the electronic camera receives an output signal from the sensor and automatically prohibits a photographing mode in response to the signal.    
   
   
       4 . The electronic device system according to  claim 1 , wherein the camera stand further comprises: 
 a holding section to hold the electronic camera mounted thereon such that a front surface of the camera is positioned at an oblique angle with respect to a base of the camera stand; and    a stand switch which is adapted to toggle the power switch of the electronic camera.    
   
   
       5 . The electronic device system according to  claim 2 , wherein the camera stand further comprises: 
 a holding section to hold the electronic camera mounted thereon such that a front surface of the camera is positioned at an oblique angle with respect to a base of the camera stand; and    a stand switch which is adapted to toggle the power switch of the electronic camera.    
   
   
       6 . The electronic device system according to  claim 3 , wherein the camera stand further comprises: 
 a holding section to hold the electronic camera mounted thereon such that a front surface of the camera is positioned at an oblique angle with respect to a base of the camera stand; and    a stand switch which is adapted to toggle the power switch of the electronic camera.    
   
   
       7 . The electronic device system according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication system includes a USB terminal.  
   
   
       8 . The electronic device system according to  claim 7 , wherein the camera stand has a video output terminal.  
   
   
       9 . An electronic camera system including an electronic camera and a camera stand on which the electronic camera is mountable, the electronic camera comprising: 
 a photographing lens portion provided on a front side of the electronic camera;    a display provided on a back side of the electronic camera to display a photographed image;    an image pickup element which receives an image of a subject formed by the photographing lens portion, and which converts the image to an electrical signal corresponding to the image;    an image processing circuit which processes the electrical signal from the image pickup element;    a rewritable image memory which stores data of the photographed image; and    an electronic camera side connecting portion, provided on one of a bottom surface and a side surface of the electronic camera communication between the camera stand and the electronic camera; and    the camera stand comprising: 
 a mount portion on which the electronic camera is mountable, the mount portion having an inclined surface which abuts one of the bottom surface and the side surface of the electronic camera, such that the back side of the electronic camera is directed forward of the camera stand and the display of the electronic camera is directed obliquely upward;  
 a camera stand side connecting portion provided in the mount portion to carry out communication between the camera stand and the electronic camera; and  
 a terminal to carry out communication between the camera stand and an external device.  
   
   
   
       10 . An electronic camera system including an electronic camera and a camera stand on which the electronic camera mountable, 
 the electronic camera comprising: 
 a photographing lens portion provided on a front side of the electronic camera;  
 a display provided on a back side of the electronic camera to display a photographed image;  
 an image pickup element which receives an image of a subject formed by the photographing lens portion, and which converts the image to an electrical signal corresponding to the image;  
 an image processing circuit which processes the electrical signal from by the image pickup element;  
 a rewritable image memory which stores data of the photographed image; and  
 an electronic camera side connecting portion, provided on a bottom surface of the electronic camera to carry out communication between the camera stand and the electronic camera, wherein the bottom surface includes a battery lid and a tripod screw, and the electronic camera side connecting portion is located between the battery lid and the tripod screw, and the camera stand comprising:  
 a mount portion on which the electronic camera is mountable such that the display of the electronic camera is directed forward from the camera stand;  
 a camera stand side connecting portion provided in the mount portion to carry out communication between the camera stand and the electronic camera; and  
 a terminal to carry out communication between the camera stand and an external device.  
   
   
   
       11 . An electronic camera system including an electronic camera and a camera stand on which the electronic camera is mountable, 
 the electronic camera comprising: 
 a photographing lens portion provided on a front side of the electronic camera;  
 a display provided on a back side of the electronic camera to display a photographed image;  
 an image pickup element which receives an image of a subject formed by the photographing lens portion, and which converts the image to an electrical signal corresponding to the image;  
   an image processing circuit which processes the electrical signal obtained by-the image pickup element;    a rewritable image memory which stores data of the photographed image; and    an electronic camera side connecting portion, provided on one of a bottom surface and a side surface of the electronic camera to carry out communication between the camera stand and the electronic camera, and    the camera stand comprising: 
 a mount portion on which the electronic camera is mountable, both when the electronic camera is in a first direction in which the front side of the electronic camera is at a front side of the camera stand and when the electronic camera is in a second direction in which the back side of the electronic camera is at the front side of the camera stand; and  
 a camera stand side connecting portion provided in the mount portion to carry out communication between the camera stand and the electronic camera;  
   wherein the electronic camera system further comprises detecting means for detecting which of the first direction and the second direction is a mount direction of the electronic camera; and    wherein the electronic camera further comprises a controller which allows different operation modes in accordance with the direction detected by the detecting means.    
   
   
       12 . The electronic camera system according to  claim 11 , wherein when the mount direction of the electronic camera is the second direction, the controller allows reproduction display of the data of the photographed image on the display, and when the mount direction of the electronic camera is the first direction, the controller prohibits reproduction display of the data of the photographed image on the display.